Chapter 58 Sailing the South China Sea and Entering the Waterfall Yan Chao said solemnly, "Strange..."
Yan Chao said solemnly, "No wonder it's so deserted; it turns out everyone's dead. But I remember this place used to be the location of the Xi Zhe tribe, but it suddenly disappeared three hundred years ago. This matter remains a mystery to this day."
Some say the Xizhe tribe migrated away like the Yezi tribe of old; others say it was torn apart by internal strife; the most bizarre theory is that it was wiped out by the sorcerer Jin Xin. In short, unlike the other three tribes, the Xizhe tribe left no trace in the world, but vanished completely as if it had evaporated from the face of the earth.
Feng Xi said, "Compared to the other three tribes, the Xi Zhe tribe has the largest population and is also more secretive. They originally lived by the sea, and the entire sea area belonged to the Xi Zhe people. After the battle with the water bandits, they migrated to an island in the sea. After that, people would come ashore from time to time, but no one knew the location of the island. If it weren't for the fact that no one had come ashore for a long time, I'm afraid no one would have discovered that the Xi Zhe tribe had disappeared. At the time, everyone thought that Jin Xin had captured them and taken them to be refined."
Yan Chao chuckled and said, "The most sensational event back then was the demonic Taoist Jin Xin. Everyone was in danger, fearing that they would be captured and refined by Jin Xin, so it's no wonder people had such speculations. But I don't believe that no matter how powerful he is, he couldn't possibly have extended his reach that far. It's a pity we're going to the bottom of the sea this time, otherwise I really would like to look for that island."
Just then, night fell, and Feng Xi snapped his fingers. The lamp hanging at the bow of the boat instantly lit up, illuminating the way ahead: "Let's set off."
The small boat moved steadily and slowly toward the center of the sea, with one person in front and one behind, but no one rowed. Yan Chao sat cross-legged, placing his hands in the dark, calm seawater, creating clusters of light waves: "This is my first time riding in an automatically moving boat, it feels pretty good."
Feng Xi chuckled and said, "We're still far from our destination, so you can enjoy this for a long time. However, I originally wanted to use this opportunity to see if there's anything or any barrier on the sea, and so far everything is normal."
As the small boat sailed further and further away, Yan Chao suddenly pointed to the bright moon in the sky and exclaimed with delight, "Look! What a rare sight of the bright moon over the sea!"
Feng Xi crossed his arms and looked up, saying, "It is indeed a rare sight. It would be even better if we could sit up there and have a pot of wine."
Yan Chao took out a bright, icy blue bead from his bag and said, "Look at this bead, doesn't it look like the brightest star next to the moon?"
Feng Xi said, "This is a water-repelling pearl."
Yan Chao said, "That's right! With it, I can breathe freely underwater. I specifically borrowed it from Yu Jia; it cost me half a month's wages!"
Feng Xi laughed and said, "Don't you even offer a friendly price at Chunshan Tower?"
Yan Chao said, "The benefits at Chunshan Tower are already quite good. Such matters should be handled separately. If everyone did this, wouldn't things get chaotic?"
Feng Xi said, "That makes sense, that makes sense."
Yan Chao turned to look at Feng Xi, blinked, and said, "Look at this perfect scene, how about I tell you a story?"
Feng Xi also sat cross-legged, facing Yan Chao, indicating that she was willing to hear the details.
Yan Chao replied, "Once upon a time, I was almost swallowed by a giant shark!"
Feng Xi paused for a moment, then asked in astonishment, "What happened? And then what?"
Feng Xi's voice sounded unusually urgent, and Yan Chao quickly explained, "Don't worry, I was later rescued by a group of Baiji."
"Actually, once when Momo and I went on a sea voyage, I accidentally fell asleep, and the boat drifted at sea for a long time. When I woke up, the sharks were about to capsize the boat, and Momo was so anxious that she kept pecking at my hair. Luckily, a group of whitebait came, or I would have gone bald! Hahaha—isn't that funny?"
Feng Xi merely curved her lips into a faint smile, turned her head away, and remained silent, seemingly a little angry. Yan Chao wondered if she had said something wrong. Wasn't this just ridiculous?
Feng Xi's reaction made her inexplicably nervous, and she asked, "Feng Xi, what's wrong?"
Feng Xi sighed softly, then turned to look at Yan Chao with a fervent and heavy expression.
That look again.
When Yan Chao woke up in the Temple of the Righteousness, she had seen that look in his eyes before. At the time, she was only concerned about not being exposed and took it as concern between friends. If she had any doubts before, now she was absolutely certain that they must have known each other before their encounter at the tavern.
Feng Xi said, "Chao Chao, there's something I must tell you, and I hope you'll listen carefully."
Yan Chao said seriously, "What is it? Tell me."
Feng Xi said, "I think you must have gotten used to being alone all these years, and you always manage to handle danger calmly. I know you're not afraid, and you always seem indifferent when you're hurt or in pain. But can you promise me that if you encounter any strange or dangerous people or things again, don't go near them. Just call me and let me handle it, okay?"
Yan Chao replied without hesitation, "I cannot agree to that." Before Feng Xi could speak again, Yan Chao grasped his hand, his tone leaving no room for argument, "You also feel pain! Although I don't know your past, just looking at the current state of the Ghost Realm and Yao Xu, I know how much you've sacrificed and endured. In the past, weren't you also alone? Why should you be the one to shield us from the wind and rain?"
"Feng Xi, we're together now. We're not alone."
As soon as the words were spoken, a mist suddenly rose from the sea, gradually enveloping them. The small boat remained steady, but its lights flickered. Beneath the calm surface, a huge dark shadow moved slowly alongside the boat, waiting for its chance to strike.
Feng Xi stood up, glanced sideways at the water, and said, "Looks like we're being welcomed by another big guy this time."
Yan Chao laughed and said, "It's not going to be another giant shark, is it?" After saying that, she prepared to get up. As soon as she stood up, before she could even stand up properly, the boat suddenly shook violently.
"careful--!!"
Feng Xi quickly caught her and asked, "Are you alright?"
Yan Chao shook his head and said, "I'm fine."
Suddenly, the small boat sank downwards and accelerated, and the fog on the sea became thicker and thicker. If the two people hadn't been standing close together, they wouldn't have been able to see each other even face to face.
Yan Chao asked, "Are you still driving it now?"
Feng Xi said, "It's that guy. It can take us directly to our destination, which saves us a lot of trouble."
The dark shape seemed to be clinging tightly to the boat, causing it to suddenly rise high and then plummet low, making Yan Chao feel nauseous. He exclaimed, "Why is this thing deliberately tormenting people!" Just as he was about to take out a pill from his bag, he realized something was wrong. "Why do I feel like this boat is spinning?"
Indeed, the mischievous shadowy figure was spinning the boat in one direction, faster and faster, scattering the mist and causing a sudden silence. Then, a deep, muffled rumbling sound broke the stillness, seemingly coming from the seabed. Yan Chao thought strangely, "Why does this sound so much like a waterfall?" The next moment, with a "crack," Yan Chao felt his feet sink into the ground, and the small boat was instantly shredded into pieces. A powerful suction force trapped them, and they, along with the boat, plummeted into the underwater waterfall!
Although they were prepared, it still came too suddenly. For Yan Chao, who was currently powerless, it was truly a difficult ordeal. Fortunately, Feng Xi held her tightly in his arms the entire time.
The speed of their descent gradually stabilized, but they seemed to be inside a vertical column of water. Despite being so close, they could only hear the sound of the water and couldn't hear each other's voices at all. They didn't know how long they had been falling. At first, Yan Chao could still see Feng Xi clearly, but gradually, his vision blurred, and Feng Xi seemed to be getting further and further away from him, until they were completely engulfed in darkness.
"Chaochao, where are you?"
"Feng Xi, where are you?"
The two spoke almost simultaneously, only a person's distance apart, but neither received a response.
Yan Chao was surrounded by darkness. She reached forward, but touched nothing, only feeling something slippery slip under her hand. She then reached down with her foot, but it didn't land on anything either; she felt like she was floating. As she groped her way forward, she called out to Feng Xi, unaware that a pale, eerie gaze was following closely behind her.
"Feng Xi, can you hear me? Feng—" Yan Chao suddenly felt something bump into her, spun around in place, and then something pulled her. She instinctively tried to break free, but was instead pulled forward.
"Yan Chao, it's me! Yao Xu."
Upon hearing this, Yan Chao opened his eyes wide and indeed saw Yao Xu, but it was only a faint afterimage.
Yan Chao said, "Why are you just a blur? Did you see Feng Xi? And Mi Qing, is she with you? Why are you just a blur?"
Yao Xu said, "You got separated from my brother too?! This place is really weird. There seems to be some kind of barrier here. It doesn't seem to be a barrier set up by magic, but it can isolate all of us in different spaces. If it weren't for the necklace you were wearing and your voice, I really wouldn't have been able to see you."
Yan Chao asked, "What necklace?" She suddenly remembered the birthday gift Feng Xi had given her. When she took it out from her chest, she noticed that the beads on the chain were sparkling.
Yao Xu asked, "Did Feng Xi give this to you?"
Yan Chao said, "Yes."
Yao Xu chuckled meaningfully and said, "He really went all out, even giving you this."
Yan Chao asked, "Is there something wrong with this bead?"
Yao Xu replied, "No problem, just keep it safe. However, this thing is connected to the minds of the rest of us, so we can sense it no matter where we are. But right now, it's separated in another space, so even if it can sense you, it can't find you."
Yan Chao carefully put the necklace away and said, "Let's find them quickly."
It was still pitch black, making it impossible to discern directions, so they could only wander aimlessly. Suddenly, the two saw a figure not far away, whose shape resembled Mi Qing. Yao Xu shouted, "Mi Qing! We're here!" Just as they were about to move forward, a gigantic object, seven zhang long and three zhang wide, pierced through the figure's back in an instant!
"Get out of the way—!!!"
The figure exploded with a "boom," sending the two flying. Fortunately, they were both caught safely in the end.
Feng Xi asked, "Chao Chao, are you injured?"
Yan Chao shook his head, and after regaining his footing, said, "I'm fine. How are you?"
Feng Xi said, "I'm fine."
"......"
Yao Xu leaned against Mi Qing as if he were falling apart, and said in a feignedly weak voice, "Mi Qing, I'm not well, I'm very bad."
Mi Qing patted his head helplessly and said, "Then I'll give you a proper check-up once we get ashore."
Yao Xu said, "Thank you, but it's no need."
"But then again, what was that just now? A fish?"
Yan Chao said, "It is the Sword Bone Silver Fish."
The "fish" has flesh but no scales, its entire body is transparent and shimmering with a silvery sheen. Only a single spine connects its head and tail. Because its head is extremely sharp, resembling a long sword, it gets its name. However, this fish has no teeth; instead, its spine is covered with densely packed, highly venomous spines. This fish is extremely cunning. Because of its unusual appearance, it often attracts curiosity, luring people to catch it. Once a person comes into contact with it, it releases toxins, injecting its venomous spines into the human body. This can cause hallucinations, and ultimately, the person is eaten without their knowledge.
Yao Xu suddenly realized: "So what I saw just now was an illusion?"
Yan Chao recalled the slippery feeling in his hand just now, and it must have been the Sword Bone Silver Fish.
Mi Qing said, "But this time it seems it doesn't want to eat us, but to blow us up directly."
Before he could finish speaking, Yan Chao belatedly realized he had stepped on something that was a bit uncomfortable. Suddenly, the surroundings lit up, revealing an endless expanse of stark white bones!
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